NGC 1255

NGC 1255 is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 69 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Fornax.

Observational history
NGC 1255 was discovered by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard on August 30, 1883 with the 6-inch refractor at Vanderbilt University. He described it as a "faint nebula, not large, pretty even in light. A faint star close p and slightly south probably involved. Star is s and f the nebula by about 30'". American astronomer Ormond Stone made an independent discovery in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick Observatory, recording "4.1'x2.0', PA 315°".

Supernovae
Supernova SN 1980O of magnitude 17.0 was detected in NGC 1255 on October 30, 1980. It was discovered by German astronomer Hans-Emil Schuster with the 1.0-m Schmidt telescope. The supernova was classified as type II, and it was located at the following coordinates: RA 03h 13m 27s, Dec -25° 44.50′ (J2000 epoch). By December 30, 1980 the supernova had faded by about 4 magnitudes and showed strong P-Cyg-type profiles.

A second supernova, SN 2022ame (type II, mag. 17.3), was discovered on 27 January, 2022.